This book traces Ireland's experience of FOI legislation, from the first FOI ACt in 1997, to the amendments that significantly constrained its provisions in 2003, to the new legislation that came into force in 2015. It examines FOI form a series of perspectives: from a state perspective, looking at the balance between keeping the state's secrets and keeping government accountable; from a media perspective; and from a citizen's perspective, using FOI to develop active citizenship and engagement. Finally, the book assesses the extent to which FOI contributes to political reform.